Systems and Methods for Configuring Golf Course Greens

ABSTRACT

A method and system for controlling the topography of a surface, such as a golf course green or fairway, through the use of a mechanical elevation control device placed below the surface of the earth. The mechanical elevation control device may be mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic. Predetermined surface configurations, including historic configurations, may be stored in a memory associated with the system and used to configure a surface.

This application claims priority to, and claims under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1) the benefit of the filing date of, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/012,114 filed Apr. 18, 2020, and is a continuation of PCT/US21/27858 filed Apr. 18, 2021, the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present inventions relate to systems and methods to configure golf courses, golf course greens and playing fields. In particular, an embodiment of the present inventions relate to systems and methods that can configure the surface of a golf course into predetermined topography, without the need to disrupt the surface of the course.

As used herein, unless expressly provided otherwise, the term “green” “golf course green”, “putting green” and similar such terms, should be given their broadest possible meaning, and would include any area of closely trimmed grass, earth, or syntenic turf, carpet, etc., that has one or more cups in it for receiving golf balls, the cup may also have a removable pin and flag. In general, players, golfers, persons attempting to golf, participants, hit golf balls on the green with golf clubs, e.g., strokes, precision strokes, putts, in attempts to cause the golf ball to move, e.g., roll, traverse, along the surface of the green and into the cup. The shape and topology of the green can vary almost without limit. The green may be part of a golf course having one or more, six or more, nine or more, 18 or more holes. A green may be a stand alone area, not a part of a golf course, such as in a private back yard, at a hotel or amusement park. The green may be associated with several other greens in an area, such as a putting practice area.

As used herein, unless expressly provided otherwise, the term “fringe” is the area of longer grass adjacent to and surrounding, in whole or in part, the green. Typically, the fringe is a band of longer grass, having a width of about 6 inches to about 3 or 4 feet, that separates the green from the other parts of the golf course, e.g., fairway, rough or hazards.

A green may have associated with it hazards, generally near or around the outside of the green, and typically the outside of the fringe, such as sand traps, water, trees, and the like.

As used herein, unless expressly provided otherwise, the term “control system” “automation system”, and similar such terms, should be given their broadest possible meaning, and would include automated and semi-automated systems having components, such as for example computers, inputs, memory, I/O devices, PLCs, sensors, graphic user interfaces (GUI), WiFi, connectivity, and networks including cloud capability.

As used herein, unless expressly provided otherwise, the term “green configuration” and similar such terms, should be given their broadest possible meaning, and would include properties of the green, such as outer shape, area, cup (e.g., pin) placement, and surface features, such as topography, shape, elevation, contour, slope, and tilt.

The term “topography”, unless expressly provided otherwise, should be given its broadest possible meaning, and would include the surface relief, surface elevations, contour, slope and tilt of the surface, such as the surface of the earth, including the surface of a green or field.

Generally, a large amount of work is required to plan the configuration of a green. Prior to the present inventions, the configuration of a green required manually changing the volume of earth in particular location of the green to provide the desired topography to the green. Prior to the present inventions, these efforts at configuration required a great deal of planning, time and effort. These prior efforts were burdensome, disruptive and expensive. Prior to the present inventions, similar burdensome, disruptive and expensive efforts were required to configure a fairway or playing field. Prior to the present inventions, it is believed that it was impossible to precisely, and easily, replicate the topography of a green that used in prior major tournaments, such as the Masters, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, US Open, British Open, The Players Championship, etc.

As used herein, unless stated otherwise, room temperature is 25° C. And, standard temperature and pressure is 25° C. and 1 atmosphere. Unless expressly stated otherwise all tests, test results, physical properties, and values that are temperature dependent, pressure dependent, or both, are provided at standard temperature and pressure.

As used herein, unless specified otherwise, the recitation of ranges of values, a range, from about “x” to about “y”, and similar such terms and quantifications, serve as merely shorthand methods of referring individually to separate values within the range. Thus, they include each item, feature, value, amount or quantity falling within that range. As used herein, unless specified otherwise, each and all individual points within a range are incorporated into this specification, and are a part of this specification, as if they were individually recited herein.

Generally, the term “about” as used herein unless specified otherwise is meant to encompass a variance or range of ±10%, the experimental or instrument error associated with obtaining the stated value, and preferably the larger of these.

This Background of the Invention section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with embodiments of the present inventions. Thus the forgoing discussion in this section provides a framework for better understanding the present inventions, and is not to be viewed as an admission of prior art.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there has been a long-standing and great desire among golfers, greens keepers, fans, athletes and other, for the ability to quickly and easily configure the topography of the surface of an area, such as a playing field, fairway or green in a predetermined manner. The present inventions, among other things, solves these and other long standing needs by providing the devices, methods, and systems taught and disclosed in the specification, drawings and claims.

Thus, there is provided a topographical control system, for repeatedly reconfiguring a surface of the earth, without a need to disrupt the surface, the system having: a control system comprising a controller; a mechanical elevation assembly, the assembly having: a plurality of elevation controlling devices, each device comprising a device upper surface; wherein the upper surface is configured for engagement with the earth; whereby the device upper surfaces define a mechanical elevation assembly upper surface; the control system in control communication with the mechanical elevation assembly; and, the control systems configured to repeatably adjust a height of each elevation controlling device; whereby the mechanical elevation assembly upper surface can have a plurality of different predetermined topographies; whereby went the mechanical elevation assembly is placed below the surface of the earth, the surface of the earth can be repeatedly reconfigured into a topography corresponding to each of the different predetermined topographies of the mechanical elevation assembly upper surface.

There is further provided these systems and methods having one more of the following features: wherein the elevation controlling devices comprise one or more of the devices selected from the group consisting of pistons, jacks, linkages, ball and screw devices, pneumatic devices, pneumatic inflatable bags, and, hydraulic devices, hydraulic inflatable device having a liner above the mechanical elevations assembly upper surface; having data having predetermined characteristic for an historical configuration of a surface; wherein the historic data comprises historic gold course green configurations; wherein the surface is selected from the group of surfaces consisting of a golf course, a green, a fairway, a stadium field, a soccer filed, and an American football field.

A method of improving a golf course, the method comprising installing a topography control system of any of the foregoing claims below the surface of the golf course.

A method of configuring a golf course, the method comprise using a topography control system of any of the forgoing to configure the contour and surface of the golf course.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a cross sectional schematic view of an embodiment of a configurable golf course green in accordance with the present inventions.

FIG. 1B is an isolated plan schematic view of the mechanical elevation assembly of FIG. 1A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In general, the present inventions relate to unique devices to control, configure, change and reconfigure the topography of playing areas, such as golf course greens, golf course fairways, stadiums, tennis courts and fields.

In general, the system has a control system that controls a mechanical elevation assembly, which is located beneath the earth under the green. The mechanical elevation assembly has number of devices that can have their height individually adjusted and set by the control system. In this manner the height of each device in the assembly can be adjusted and set, preferably in a predetermined manner, which in turn will cause the earth and the surface of the earth, e.g., a golf course green, above each device to have a particular elevation. By selecting particular heights for each device in the assembly, the elevations of particular areas of the surface can be controlled and thus the topography of the surface of the earth, e.g., the contour of the gold course, green can be determined, controlled and configured.

In this manner the topography of the surface of the earth, e.g., a green, can be easily and quickly changed, by adjusting the height of one or more of the devices in the assembly, to provide an entirely different contour to the surface. The surface, e.g., the green, can be reconfigured to have a different topography, without the need for removing or adding earth, grass or both. In this manner the surface, e.g., green can be reconfigured with disrupting the grass, turf, etc., on the green.

In embodiments, the control system can be in communication with a memory device that stores predetermined configurations for the surface, e.g., fairway, green, field. In this manner a predetermined configuration can be selected, the system can be activated and the surface will be configured to match this predetermined configuration. In embodiments the height of one or more of the devices can be set, or the height of a series of devices, as a unit or block can be set. In this manner the surface can be configured to unique configurations, evaluated, e.g., played on, water drainage studied, and if the configuration is desirable, stored in the memory for later uses. For example, configurations can be determined that are best for different amounts of rain, temperature and other conditions, and then stored in the memory, and used when those environmental conditions are present. In an embodiment, the environmental conditions are monitored and atomically cause the system to reconfigure to the match the conditions.

In an embodiment of the system the system has access to, e.g., is in communication with, or has memory, that contains information about the configuration of famous or historic surface configurations, such as green configurations that were used on a particular hole, for a particular golf championship. Thus, the green could be configured to allow the players to play on a green having the same contour as a famous green configuration from past tournaments.

In embodiments, a GUI, (graphic user interface), which could be a smart phone, app, tablet, screen, kiosk, monitor, etc., is associated with each golf hole, e.g., at or near the tea area. As the player begins to play on that hole, they can select a green configuration from a menu having available configurations, and the system will then configure the green to that selected configuration, and the players can play that green configuration. The following, or later, group of players can then select a new green configuration. (Sensors and monitors preferably are in place so that the green configuration does not change until the first party has played through and is off the green)

In an embodiment, the GUI can be an online (e.g., internet, web based, ethernet based, etc.) portal that allows a group of players, (e.g., a foursome) to preselect the configuration of each green in their round (e.g., 9 or 18 holes) of golf. Their cart, bags, phone, or badges, can then have identification devices, e.g., RFID, cards, codes, apps, etc., that the system can use to identify the party as they are playing, and automatically configure each green for them.

In an embodiment the system is associated with a computer program, on a computer, designed to predict the rolling pattern and forces on a gold ball, as it moves across a particular topography, e.g., how a particular green will play. Several mechanical engineering and civil engineering programs are available and known to the art for such computer designs. Thus, desired types of play, e.g., breaks, rolls, etc., can be determined by this program, e.g., computer designed, and then used to determine a height for each device in the mechanical elevation assembly of the system. These determined heights will then provide specific elevations for a green configuration that meets the computer designed playing characteristics. A similar computer analysis, design, can be done for drainage and other environmental conditions, and then used to develop predetermined heights for the devices and a predetermine configuration for the surface.

The mechanical elevation assembly is located below the surface of the green, and preferably below the earth under the green, and below any watering and draining pipes that are in the earth under the green. The mechanical elevation assembly is made up of a several devices, i.e., elevation controlling device, that that can control their height in a predetermined manner, i.e., their upper surface can be raised and lowered. The devices may be mechanical, such as pistons, jacks, linkages, and ball and screw devices. The devices may be pneumatic. The devices may be hydraulic. The devices may be combinations and variations of the forgoing devices. The devices can be individual devices or they can be cells of a larger device. Of importance, it is preferred that the devices have sufficient strength and capability to move the surface, e.g., the green, and the earth below the surface, as well as, hold that position for extended periods of time. Thus, the device must be able to obtain a predetermined height and hold that height over time and during play on the green. A preferred device is a hydraulic device that uses a liquid, such as water. Air or gasses may also be sued, but in this case sufficient pressure must be maintained to make certain that the surface, e.g., green, configuration does not change while being used, e.g., players, and even the occasional, although not permitted golf cart, are on it. The mechanical elevation assembly can have two, three, four, five, ten, tens, hundreds, and thousands of devices. In embodiments, each device can be in control communication with the control system, or one or more of the devices can have its own control system, or sub-system.

It should be understood that while vertical movement of the device is preferred, and primarily used in the present embodiments, other directions of movement are contemplated. The axis of movement of the device could be on an angle, and even horizontal. In this manner, for example, the contour of a rock-climbing face can be configured and changed.

In embodiments, the mechanical elevation assembly and the elevations control devices that make up that assembly, can be installed under the surface of the earth by using know boring and insertion machines and techniques, such as for installing pipes and cables under streets.

In general, the device should have the ability to adjust its height from about 1 inch to about 4 feet, from about 1 foot to about 4 feet, at least about 1 foot, at least about 2 feet, at least about 3 feet, larger and smaller heights may also be used. The range of adjustment of the height may be referred to as the stroke of the device. For larger strokes the devices can be stacked one atop the other. The devices can have a surface area, i.e., the area of contact with the earth or surface, e.g., green, above the device, that is from about 1 square inch to about 4 square feet, from about 0.5 square feet to about 2 square feet, 2 square feet or less, 1.5 square feet or less, 1 square foot or less, 0.5 square foot or less. The shape of the surface of these devices (i.e., the surface in contact with the earth and which exerts a force to move the earth) can be square, rectangular, oval, circular, elongate, ribbon like, and combinations and variations of these. The devices, the surfaces of these devices, and both, can be directly adjacent to each other, thus providing a continuous surface, they could be spaced apart, and combinations and variations of these. The elevation assembly can have devices that have the same or different strokes, the same or different areas, the same or different shapes, are adjacent or spaced apparat, and combinations and variations of these.

In embodiments the surface that is configured may be, for example, natural grasses, Bermuda grass, bentgrass, ryegrass, poa annus grass, artificial grass, artificial turf, felt, carpet, sand, clay or dirt.

Turning to FIG. 1A there is shown a schematic cross sectional schematic view of an embodiment of a configurable green 100. FIG. 1B is a plan view schematic of the mechanical elevation assembly 109 of the configurable green 100 of FIG. 1A. The configurable green 100 has a topography determining system 190. The topography determining system 190 has a control system 101 that has a controller 103 and a memory 104.

The control system 101 is in control communication (shown by dashed line 107 d) with a GUI 102. The control system 101 is in control communication (shown by dashed line 107 a) with a pump assembly 106. The control system 101 is in control communication (shown by dashed line 107 b) with a fluid reservoir 105. The control system 101 is in control communication (shown by dashed line 107 c) with a topography measuring and analysis system 160. (The system 160 can use lasers, ultrasound, or other sensing and monitory systems to determine the topography of the surface and provide information, feedback, etc., to the control system to assist in, or confirm that the desired configuration has been obtained.) It being understood that the control system, and its components and devices that are monitored and controlled, may be networked or otherwise interconnected for the compunction of instructions and information, such as control signals and information signals. Further, one or more or all of the devices in the system may have other control and monitoring related components, such as actuators, I/O (input output devices), sensors, computers, and PLCs, associated with then and in communication with one or more of the other devices.

The topography determining system 190 has a fluid source, that is for example, fluid reservoir 105. The fluid reservoir can contain a liquid such as water. The fluid source could be existing watering lines. If the system is pneumatic the fluid source could be compressed air, such as a compressed air tank reservoir, or could be a pump with an air intake. The fluid source can be located away from the green, near the green, under the green. Preferably the fluid source, e.g., reservoir is concealed from view. The fluid source could be CO₂, thus sequestering a greenhouse gas, and providing the golf course with a carbon credit.

The fluid reservoir 105 is in fluid communication, via line 108, with pump assembly 106. In an embodiment the pump assembly has a pump associated with each line 110 a-110 j, respectively. The lines 110 a-110 j, respectively, place each pump in fluid communication with an elevation controlling device 111 a-11 j, respectively. In this embodiment, the height elevation devices are bags that expand in a vertical direction as fluid is added to them and thus increase their height, and can decrease their height when fluid is removed. The fluid for example could be air or water. The stroke, or vertical movement of the elevation control devices is shown by arrow 123. The elevation controlling devices make up mechanical elevation assembly 109. Each elevation device has a surface 112 a-112 j respectively. Turning to FIG. 1B the surfaces of all of the elevation controlling devices, e.g., 112 a-112 j, 112″, are shown. These devices collectively make up a surface 150, of elevation assembly 109.

The surface 150 of elevation assembly 190 (and thus each surface, e.g., 112 a-112 j, 112″, of each elevation control device, is contact with the earth 120 (liners or other intermediate structures may be used). Grass layer 121 of the green, is on the top of the earth 120, and forms a surface 129, of the green 121, and the earth 120. The green 121 has a cup 122 in it.

In an embodiment the mechanical elevation assembly is located under a fairway of a golf course. The assembly can have a single elevation device or many devices. The assembly can be used to provide a hump like contour to the fairway to increase the difficulty of the hole. This may find uses, for example, in older golf course where the holes are of shorter lengths, e.g., less than 400 yards, and there is a need or desire to increasing the difficult of a hole or the course over all.

In embodiments the mechanical elevation assembly can be placed under a stadium field, and the stadium field can be changed for different sporting or entertainment requirements, e.g., American football, soccer, cricket, baseball, concerts (the field can be raised away from the stage in an amphitheater, sloped or tiered, like configuration). The field contour can also be changed to facilitate more rapid drainage, if needed because of rain or weather conditions, before, during or after an event.

The following examples are provided to illustrate various embodiments of surfaces, fields, golf courses, greens configurations, systems, devices, apparatus and methods of the present inventions. These examples are for illustrative purposes, may be prophetic, and should not be viewed as, and do not otherwise limit the scope of the present inventions.

The various embodiments of devices, articles, components, parts, uses, applications, methods, activities and operations set forth in this specification may be used for various other fields and for various other activities, uses and embodiments. Additionally, these embodiments, for example, may be used with: existing systems, articles, components, operations or activities; may be used with systems, articles, components, operations or activities that may be developed in the future; and with such systems, articles, components, operations or activities that may be modified, in-part, based on the teachings of this specification. Further, the various embodiments and examples set forth in this specification may be used with each other, in whole or in part, and in different and various combinations. Thus, for example, the components of an embodiment having A, A′ and B and the components of an embodiment having A″, C and D can be used with each other in various combination, e.g., A, C, D, and A. A″ C and D, etc., in accordance with the teaching of this Specification. The scope of protection afforded the present inventions should not be limited to a particular embodiment, example, configuration or arrangement that is set forth in a particular embodiment, example, or in an embodiment in a particular Figure.

The invention may be embodied in other forms than those specifically disclosed herein without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. 

What is claimed:
 1. A topographical control system, for repeatedly reconfiguring a surface of the earth, without a need to disrupt the surface, the system comprising: a. a control system comprising a controller; b. a mechanical elevation assembly, the assembly comprising: i. a plurality of elevation controlling devices, each device comprising a device upper surface; wherein the upper surface is configured for engagement with the earth; ii. whereby the device upper surfaces define a mechanical elevation assembly upper surface; c. the control system in control communication with the mechanical elevation assembly; and, d. the control systems configured to repeatably adjust a height of each elevation controlling device; whereby the mechanical elevation assembly upper surface can have a plurality of different predetermined topographies; e. whereby went the mechanical elevation assembly is placed below the surface of the earth, the surface of the earth can be repeatedly reconfigured into a topography corresponding to each of the different predetermined topographies of the mechanical elevation assembly upper surface.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the elevation controlling devices comprise one or more of the devices selected from the group consisting of pistons, jacks, linkages, ball and screw devices, pneumatic devices, pneumatic inflatable bags, and, hydraulic devices, hydraulic inflatable device.
 3. The systems of any of the foregoing claims, comprising a liner above the mechanical elevations assembly upper surface.
 4. The systems of any of the foregoing claims, comprising data having predetermined characteristic for an historical configuration of a surface.
 5. The systems of claims 4, wherein the historic data comprises historic gold course green configurations.
 6. The systems of any of the foregoing claims, where the surface is selected from the group of surfaces consisting of a golf course, a green, a fairway, a stadium field, a soccer filed, and an American football field.
 7. A method of improving a golf course, the method comprising installing a topography control system of any of the foregoing claims below the surface of the golf course.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the system an elevation control device is installed below the surface of a green.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the system an elevation control device is installed below the surface of a green.
 10. A method of adjusting the contours and configuration of a golf course by using a topography control system of any of the foregoing claims. 